Lynz Adams Hawkins Wins Women’s Vert

Blair Alley

July 30 2009
1 comment

Skateboard Vert Women’s Final Results

1.    Lynz Adams Hawkins    Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.
2.    Karen Jonz                  Santo Andre, Brazil
3.    Gaby Ponce                 Tenafly, N.J.
4.    Cara-Beth Burnside      Encinitas, Calif.
5.    Julie Kindstrand           Santa Ana, Calif.
6.    Mimi Knoop                 Chesapeake, Va.
7.    Allysha Bergado           El Segundo, Calif.
8.    Elise Dabby                 Del Mar, Calif.

Just a few short years ago, no one had ever pulled a kickflip indy in a women’s vert competition. Today, three of the eight competitors in the X Games Skateboard Vert Women’s competition added the trick into fluid runs, which resulted in podium spots for each of them.

Last year’s gold medalist, Karen Jonz, skated strong today, stomping not only the kickflip indy, but a solid stalefish and a finger flip indy. In the end, however, the judges awarded gold to last year’s silver medalist, Lynz Adams Hawkins, for her multiple McTwist attempts, and her commitment to setting the bar higher for women’s vert.

Lynz, who has been getting coaching from Tony Hawk for the McTwist, has yet to land the trick in a contest, but so far she is the only female skateboarder attempting to try them.

“I honestly thought I was going to get third,” said Lynz of her win. “30 minutes for a jam session is technically a long time, but the competition went really quick because it was just go go go the whole time. I didn’t even get as many runs as I thought I would.”

Bronze medalist Gaby Ponce, a high school student from New Jersey competing in her second X Games, impressed the crowd with huge airs and a stylish gay twist. “This was the best contest I’ve ever been in,” she said.

“We’re all really pushing each other right now,” added Lynz. “I’m not even going to be able to snowboard this winter, because I’m going to have to skateboard all year round so I can practice and stick even more tricks next year at X Games’ sweet sixteen.